she's one of my favorite people
ever
she moved a couple of years ago & i miss her terribly
we hadn't touched base in a while
but i had heard through the grape vine that her daughter's "kate" had finally arrived from china
following years & years of praying & eagerly awaiting her arrival
her reply was bittersweet
she was overjoyed that precious kate was here indeed & adapting beautifully
&
her own precious hubby
had been diagnosed only days before with cancer
& i quote my precious friend
"He ( the Lord) was not surprised.....He ( the Lord) is going to use this for His glory"
katie is one of the women in my life who i have been blessed beyond measure to call my mentor
she is a precious woman who selflessly lays down her life
each day
for others, for the precious ones she calls family
some born from her best friend that has gone on to heaven
she has taught me to love my girls in many many tangible ways
i quote her again
"I have found it freeing to drop off every commitment I have and just love and care for my family. That is my primary job and my delight."
that took my breath away
honestly , is there any greater calling?
i think not
in that one email i could just hear her precious little voice giggle with delight as she shared about her new grandbaby
& yet i could also see the tears form in her warm eyes as she told me about her beloved.
i do not take it for granted that i have been blessed to be surrounded by many women who have mentored me over the years.
some in a weekly discipleship
some in kindred friendship
some just by witnessing their lives from the sidelines of daily living
all of whom i could call today with a burden on my heart
& i know
beyond a shadow of a doubt
would lift me up in prayer
would rally around me & utter words i may be unable to even speak
katie
kitti
elaine
fran
jeanine
carol
regina
nancy
kay
joyce
susan
almost every one of them has faced some form of:
cancer
divorce
financial devastation
infidelity
abuse
a prodigal child
depression
i attended her funeral
& i also attended her funeral too
i have been discipled while her son was in a drug rehab
i have seen her start her life over
i have seen her build her dream home
i have seen her lift her hands in praise to the lord despite recurrent breast cancer
i have heard her prayers for her husband to heal
i have hugged her after her double mastectomy
i have cried with her as she talked about what her girl's life might be like once she was gone
i have seen the face of Jesus in EACH of them
& i am forever changed
they have molded who I am today
i encourage you to find your "katie"
the woman who has gone before you in life
who parents the way you hope to parent
who loves her children despite their public mistakes & failures
who stands beside her husband
who loves others
who is never too busy to pray for you
& i encourage you to be someone's "katie"
even for those of us who question what we could offer a younger mama
the Lord will use YOU
come along side & build her up
tell her you're praying for her
& remember sweet katie
its my turn to pray for you today
i love you
Posts
43 comments:
You never cease to amaze me Paige, your writing is just lovely. It is wonderful to have women in your life who support you, whom you can trust and learn from, i belive that is very important. I think in life we ar given a handful of friends that love us despite our battles and you my dear have an amazing handful...cherish it always!
Just beautiful Paige...your words are just wonderful...your thoughts and what you share are so real and full of life and love. Tears in my eyes...but that's okay:)
So, so beautifully written, Paige. You absolutely amaze me and I have no doubt you have touched and blessed so many women who are lucky to call you a friend.
You are such an inspiration to me too - thank you, Paige!
xo
Oh this is just the most beautiful thing.
I don't have words.. stilled.
I will return to get to "know " you more if that is okay.
Honoured to read this.
What an amazing post Paige.....so beautifully written, you really have a way with words.
You are really one person who when I read your posts, I often want to print them out so I can carry them around with me....this is definitely one of those.
Thank you so much,
Simone xo
What a warm and wonderful testament to friendship, Paige. She is blessed indeed.
You don't know me, but I visit your blog from time to time. As a matter of fact, I added you to my sidebar one day, because I just loved your photography and your decorating expertise.
Your words have touched me so deeply today. I have a best friend who just miscarried today, at 18 weeks along, and as tears stream down my face reading your words...I realize I need to be her Katie.
Sweet blessings to you!
I am in a puddle of tears as I just read this story....and it was partly about me. How could that be? Paige, you are the mentor...and now it reaches all over the world through your blog.
I love you dearly. Miss you terribly. Am never separated from you because we are sisters in Christ and nothing can separate us from Him and each other because of the cross. Praise the Lord.
I agree with Paige, find a mentor....so many of those names she wrote down on this page have been mentors to me. Godly women speaking truth into your life...more valuable than even Paige's cool new boots.
I LOVE YOU PAIGE.
katie
Oh Paige, what a sweet and touching post! You are an amazing friend to so many!
Janet
Her quote about dropping every commitment to love and care for her family....wow...what a wonderful way to live...I think this will be my new years resolution for 2010! How lucky you are to have such a wise, wonderful woman in your life!
Awesome post Paige! How I so want to be a good "Katie"!
Heartbreakingly beautiful. What would our lives be without the love and friendship of other women who have touched our hearts and lives? Such a beautiful reminder of all the blessings we receive.
whew.
an absolutely beautiful post paige.
I am so happy to call you a friend..
you
are
so
special
xo
This is so beautiful, Paige...
xo
One of your most beautiful posts ever...... The waterworks are flowing here......this one touched me more than you will ever know!
I think you need to write a book. You know, in all your spare time:)
Hugs sweet friend.
Lisa
Paige, your words have really touched my heart tonight. I thank you for that! You are such a beautiful person and Katie is so lucky to have you in her corner. xo!!
So precious and heartfelt. Amazing how every woman has a story.
There you go again Paige, making me cry! I'm glad you have such a special friend in your life as sweet Katie! You are a good friend to so many...and I consider it a real blessing to know you :)
:) T
such a beautiful and lovely post. I have a few ladies in my life as well. This spoke to me as this is the kind of person I want the Lord to mold me into.
i was so glad to read this post, paige.
what a lovely tribute to those in your life who bring the best.
thank you for sharing something so personal...i really appreciate your words.
what a beautiful gift to have these women in your life.
rebecca
oh my goodness, Paige, your words must surely spur the shy or "self-reliant" women to find and ask for a mentor....and then let them know they are depositing eternal values that are not being wasted. thank you for this post.
Beautiful Paige. My mom is my Katie. I hope to be that to someone else. We are supposed to help others, pray, encourage eachother and to use the wisdom that we gain in this lifetime. If we just keep all our hard earned knowledge to ourselves what good would we be?? Great post sweetie.
This was hard to read. Your writing is gorgeous. It is amazing to me how many women you have stood by while they were going through so much pain. I have never had to watch that. I know my time will come either personally or to a friend...I hope I can handle it.
she'll be in my prayers as well -
how precious to have a cherished friend like that........
What a beautiful tribute to women and to all of the special ones in your life...each has a gift in giving to one another. Blessings to you.
Wow. Paige that is just Beautiful!
Thanks for checking in me with me Paige. I want to get back to blogging, but I'm the kind of person that is easily overwhelmed. So I have to wait until it's something that I really need or want to share. I like writing a post every quater. No one can get sick of me that way...Ha I like that we are friends on facebook. I wouldn't want to miss your fab photos. Just love them. BTW...this is a sweet sweet post. Too sweet for words.
absolutely precious, thank you so much. blessings, jules
This is a beautiful post Paige. I thank God all the time that I have found my "Katie" and I hope one day I will be able to pour into another young woman as she has poured into mine.
xo,
Adrienne
Thank you...this post is a sweet gift. God bless you and your family and God bless your friend.
Lovely.
Smiles ~ Ramona
My cup runneth over, I am honored by you and blessed beyond belief!
i too have watched Katie over the years and been blessed by her acts of service. as she has taken the St.Clair kids as her own -- knowing that in Carol's absence ... she would be the best replacement.
wow.
love it.
xo
HH
beautiful post!! i am in need of some of this, amazing!
A beautiful tribute to each of your friends. My heart goes out to Katie and her family and you.
Thank you for sharing!
Your posts are so very thoughtful and inspiring. I will pray for your sweet friend Katie and her husband and that baby. And be keeping your thoughts close at heart.
Have a good weekend.
How beautiful. I have to say how blessed you are. I don't have a single "Katie", not even in my mother. Thank you for sharing this Paige, very touching.
Paige, You are such a beloved blessing, your "katie" is in my prayers and the Lord has placed the both of you in each others lives to be strength for each other, we all need a katie and to be a katie for one another... i hope i am to someone...
xo,
LuLu
You are a "katie" to me. I mean that.
beautiful~ funny, but I too called a group of women to pray for an uregnt matter this afternoon. Oh what some women are missing, to NOT have a support of sisterhood, paryer warriers, and a bond in Christ. I don't know how any women could manage.
Amazing ~ your words are seeping into my heart.
Jo
You're amazing. This post was amazing.
I once had a friend like you describe -- I wish for another. In time. He knows. I know she's out there... He'll direct our paths together one day.
Thanks so much for such beautiful words... :)
Ruth
As a woman of God and a woman facing breast cancer- this blog truly moved me. We never know hoe the Lord is going to use us- and he is surely using your blessed words.
i would too you know
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